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ISSUE 46
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9 ENTERTAINMENT
EDITOR’S WORD
Music, movies & more
17 GAMING
Hello and welcome to issue 46 of My Life!
Animal Crossing
21 ART
The past few weeks seem to have sneaked up, and I can’t believe we are in December! I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on the last year, especially how much life has changed with the ease of restrictions over the past 12 months. The pandemic has seen a considerable loss of life- in several ways, and while we are still very much living with the threat of the virus, life has shown us glimmers of what used to be.
Book releases for 2022
29 FASHION
Designer Clothes and Charity Shops
31 BEAUTY
Best Advent Calendars
34 TRAVEL
Carbon Footprint
We can be proud of how we have coped during the challenging times, even when some of that has felt and continues to be difficult. I hope you give yourself some credit for what you have lived through and how adaptable and resilient you have been.
37 MY PLANET Your Photos 41 SEXUAL HEALTH
Next year will come, and with it, its challenges and celebrations. While I will not be making any resolutions, I will aim to spend more time with my family and friends and take my little boy on lots of adventures (#DisneylandPlease). I hope you will also be able to take some time to reflect on the year and what lies ahead. We can learn so much from recognising our strengths.
Advice and awareness
43 MENTAL HEALTH OCD, Journalling and more
53 PHYSICAL HEALTH & SPORT Staying Active
Festive Favourites
59 MY LIFE
Your views and news
64 LGBT Pride Gift Guide Pronouns
69 MY MONEY Student Discounts
57 FOOD
Student Life HQ has so many exciting projects in the pipeline for next year, including our 5th Birthday celebrations. It’s incredible how much we have grown and developed, and I can’t wait to see what the 01473 353512 coming year will bring.
Contact us
I hope you all have a safe and enjoyable Christmas and New Year. See you in 2022!
Rachel
Editor in Chief
07943 605468* rachel@studentlife.org.uk www.studentlife.org.uk
Search us on social @studentlifeorg *NOT CHECKED 24/7
Meet our CO-EDITORS Our magazine wouldn’t be possible without our Co-ed’s but we are always on the look-out for more! ENTERTAINMENT CO-EDITOR FRAN MULVEY Hello! I’m Fran, your Entertainment Co-Ed! I’ve recently finished an English BA (Hons) and have plans to undertake the Masters in Critical and Creative Writing in September. I am a huge bookworm with a love for fantasy, and run a personal blog where I review books called Katharina Sinead’s Book Blog, and have been a Studio Ghibli nerd since I was young.
ART CO-EDITOR KAY SABERTON Hello – I’m Kay, your Art Co-Editor! I have recently completed my MA in Creative and Critical Writing at the University of Suffolk. My interests include the arts, graphic novels, Gothic literature, and film studies. I am proud to announce that I have been part of a newly published anthology ‘Suffolk Folk’ (2021), and I am also currently writing my own historical fiction novel.
MENTAL HEALTH CO-EDITOR GLORIA DARGATZ Hi I’m Gloria! I am a student from Germany and I have been visiting a British school for a year. In my freetime I do competitive swimming, dance ballet and work with aid organisations. I am endlessly grateful for the opportunities Student Life gives me and I’m looking forward to talking to you and reading your articles.
BEAUTY & MY PLANET CO-EDITOR LIBBY DAWSON I’m Libby, an English Literature and Media Communications graduate, working with Student Life to gain experience in Marketing, Business Development, Social Media Management and now, work in Editorial! It is a great platform to be involved in. 3 • M E E T OUR CO- E DI TOR S • MY LIFE
FASHION & TRAVEL CO-EDITOR ELISE DIXON
LGBT CO-EDITOR JAMES WILLIAMS I’m James, one of your LGBT Co-Editors! I graduated from the University of Suffolk with a BA (Hons) English Degree and aspire to work in publishing. In my spare time I’m a massive bookworm, love writing my own stories, and doing various arts and crafts.
GAMING CO-EDITOR LOUISA SADLER Hey! I have recently completed my MA in Critical and Creative Writing at the University of Suffolk. I am an avid gamer with my favourite game being the Kingdom Hearts saga, an avid reader whose favourite genre is Young Adult and an avid writer of fiction. I am pursuing a career in publishing and am thankful to Student Life for my Co-Ed role to allow me to gain experience in editing and publishing.
FOOD CO-EDITOR CHLOE FINN Hi! I’m Chloe, an A Level student studying maths, further maths, chemistry and biology. I have a love for reading and cooking which I indulge in on a day to day basis! I’m more than excited to share my love of food with you!
My name is Elise Dixon and I’m one of the co-editors for the Beauty and Travel Sections. With a passion for makeup, I love learning about new products as well as exploring the world around me, and look forward to bringing you new and exciting products and places to visit.
CO-EDITOR RACHEL MITCHELL Hi I’m Rachel and I am the current co-editor for Sexual Health, My Life, Tech and Careers! However, I would love to find some students who are interested in being a co-editor and taking on some of these areas! Let me know if that’s you!
ART CO-EDITOR CHLOE SHAWCROSS Hiya! I’m Chloe and I’m an Art CoEditor! I enjoy reading, writing and painting! I’m currently in Year 11 and have hopes of moving on to Med school later in life! I’m also a huge animal lover with two furry rabbit babies of my own!
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LGBT & MY LIFE CO-EDITOR CELESTE SPAIN Hi, I’m Celeste, the LGBT co-editor! In my spare time I love writing poetry, reading (particularly LGBT fiction), playing guitar and spending time with my three cats. I’m looking forward to studying Creative Writing next year at Uni and hope to one day publish/self-publish my own novels. I’ve loved writing articles for Student Life and I’m thrilled to be the LGBT co-editor. I look forward to reading your articles!
PHOTOGRAPHY CO-EDITOR SOPHIE DEBENHAM Hi, I’m Sophie! I’m the co-editor of photography! I’m a level 3 photography student at Suffolk New College! I have a strong interest in photography and social media. Outside of Student Life I’m a massive football and rugby fan! I’m looking forward to publishing content in the future and finding new photographers to work with.
FILM CO-EDITOR CAMERON LUSTY I have recently graduated from the University of Suffolk where I achieved a 2:1 in Screenwriting. My passion for film and writing about film is what led me to Student Life magazine.
Want to see your bio here? Get in touch to find out more. Details below.
Co-Editor Vacancies Roles available across:
SUFFOLK
NORFOLK
KENT
Get in touch with Rachel at rachel@studentlife.org.uk to find out how to get involved! 5 • M E E T OUR CO- E DI TOR S • MY LIFE
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FILMING
News from HQ
It’s been an exciting time moving forward with our Covid awareness filming days, ‘Back to Life.’ We are always looking for aspiring actors, script writers, directors, and crew to get involved in our film project. This is your chance to create your film and have your say in raising awareness in topics of mental health and wellbeing. Email heather@studentlife.org.uk
SOCIAL MEDIA The group chat for social media is now live. This group chat is where we will be arranging meetings and planning content to upload. If this is something you would like to get involved in, and you would like to join the group chat please email phoebe@studentlife.org.uk
TRANSITION PROJECT This month we visited year 6 students at Ringshall Primary school to talk about their feelings and anxieties around transitioning to secondary school next year. This is the first stage of our wider transition project that will be creating resources for young people to assist with transitioning and support them with their mental health and wellbeing.
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING (RSHE) PROJECT We have had our first pre-course delivery of our bespoke Mental Health and Wellbeing Course. We visited students at Stour Valley to tell them about what the course will entail and complete a survey that will give us insight into how much the young people understand about the topics covered in the course. We are booked in to deliver the entire course very soon and very excitingly, have our printed student workbooks finalised, printed and waiting to go.
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COVID-19 awareness project We are so proud to have been selected and funded by Public Health Suffolk to expand our existing project work through the COMF initiative. The Contain Outbreak Management Fund provides funding to local authorities in England to help reduce the spread of Coronavirus and support peer-to-peer content in print and online around COVID awareness amongst young people and produce a documentary film for countrywide distribution, using our in-house film production company ‘Unity Films’. We will also be expanding our Mental Health Ambassador programme to include COVID Ambassadors and this work will continue to expand into alternative provision settings.
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ENTERTAINMENT CO-EDITORS FRAN MULVEY & CAMERON LUSTY
AN INTERVIEW WITH
ANNIE SCHERER
PART 3
BY FRAN MULVEY
ANNIE: : [Giggles] aw! That’s sweet [giggles] FRAN: ‘After Rain’ was – I liked the melody of that a lot ANNIE: Thank you FRAN: And it felt like it was telling a certain story about – it was a number of experiences, like with ‘Ashamed’ [Annie hums agreement] and I wondered what played into that song?
ANNIE: Yeah well, I wrote that I think two years ago, and I had been experiencing writers’ block for a little while and then that song kind of came to me all at once and, so what it’s about. I have always been a very independent person, I’m not – I wouldn’t say that I always want a relationship and so I was just kind of like, riding the solo wave for a long time, and I – you know I entered a relationship and I just kind of felt,
9 • E N T E R TA I N M E N T • MY LIFE
– I was just very nervous about it and – but it ended up kind of being this light that I didn’t know – not that I needed but, I don’t know it’s like, you kind of go into things scared but sometimes it works out and you just know it was meant to be, so I wrote that song about kind of just like seeing the light at the end of the tunnel you know and, entering a new phase in your life and, just kind of going with the flow I – I tend to be very rigid with myself sometimes I like to plan things out and, with this it wasn’t planned out and I kind of just had to free fall, you know?
FRAN: That’s very cool, and [...] the lyrics you felt like “you’re just a work of art, then I am just a dream.”
FRAN: I think – like with the other song, that a few – at least a few people can relate to that, [...] I thought ‘Andy Warhol’ was quite – quite an interesting song as well, and I think I remember you saying in that Instagram post that it was in relation to how perhaps we view nature or some element of the world?
FRAN: Mm, I thought I can relate to that personally as well though I won’t go into it for personal reasons [they both laugh], but ‘Take Me Places’, going on to the next song.
ANNIE: Yeah, so, ‘Andy Warhol’, it’s kind of about seeing someone in a light that’s maybe unrealistic or kind of just like seeing something, in a way that it looks better than it actually is or just, just questioning if something is too good to be true, so I wrote the song kind of about like, fantasising over someone and just maybe being nervous about disappointment like are they really this good or, like why do I deserve something that good? You know what I mean? It was just kind of like, really questioning, how good something was, and I called it ‘Andy Warhol’ because when I wrote the song I – I tend to see things when I write and I just kind of was envisioning his work and his colours, I’m a big fan and, it just made sense to me to call it that, I don’t know I thought it really just captured what I was going for visually.
ANNIE: Yeah, “If I was just a view to you, then you are just a dream”, like –
It’s like I want you to see me for who I really am, you know, and if you don’t then maybe you were just kind of just this kind of fantasy that I thought was real.
ANNIE: Mhm. FRAN: That almost seemed like you were talking to someone who brought light into your life, and made your world better for a lovely specific reason . ANNIE: Yeah, that’s pretty accurate, ‘Take Me Places’ – I mean I kind of wanted the song to sound very ethereal, kind of like flying and just, very beautiful sounding, because it is kind of just about entering something new and, that feeling of flying and experiencing new things. I started that song back like years ago, I had the verse I had the pre-chorus, and I just could not come up with a chorus that I was happy with, like I – so I kept going back to it and then one day it just worked and it took years to finish that song so I kind of had to re-enter the mindset that I was in years ago, during like my first relationship ever and, that’s kind of how I felt at the time you know just, experiencing something totally new and exciting.
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REVIEW
THORPE PARK BY LYNSEY ROPER OUR
COMPETITION WINNER
My friend Leanne and I had a great time at Thorpe Park Fright Night thanks to Student Life. A journey that should have taken an hour and a half, in typical M25 fashion, took much longer so that, by the time we arrived at the resort we had to tend to our stomachs first! We were eager to try out the newest additions to the park that neither of us has tried before, so we headed to the Black Mirror Labyrinth which needs to be prebooked via a QR code to get an allocated time spot. By the time we had done this around 1:30pm, the earliest slot available was at 7:45pm, so we booked this and went on our way. The first ride we went on was the Walking Dead ride (this was the only time of day that this ride had a queue time of less than 90+ minutes!). We thought this was a great ride to ease us into the day and didn’t upset our nice, full tummies too much! The next ride we went on was Nemesis Inferno and whilst queueing, this was the first time we saw any element of ‘Fright Night’ with some spooky dressed up characters
chasing the public around. We were keen to watch the seasonal shows – Birthday Bash and Legacy Fire and Light show as these were things that we wouldn’t be able to do if we came back to the park on a regular day. All the large rollercoasters had a queue time of over an hour and a half, so we were happy to eat our donut-sundaes and watch the preshow entertainment of the actors interacting with the audience. Unfortunately, the 6pm Birthday Bash show was cancelled and, honestly, the fire and light show was slightly underwhelming. However, we did manage to catch the Flash Mob outside of Stealth which was amazing – it is only 10 minutes long, but I would highly recommend catching it! The dancers/actors were extremely talented and this was definitely a highlight of our day. Overall, I would have liked to have seen more scare actors around the park to enhance the idea of ‘Fright Night’ but there was a lot on and it was an enjoyable day and evening!
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LOVE HARD
REVIEW
NETFLIX REVIEW BY FRAN MULVEY
It’s only November, but I’m never one to shy away from watching Christmas films out of season (the first time I watched one this year was early October), so I have no qualms about writing a review on a new Christmas film that was recently released on Netflix. Starring Nina Dobrev (The Vampire Diaries), Jimmy O. Yang (Crazy Rich Asians) and Harry Shum Jr. (Glee, Shadowhunters). Love Hard follows Natalie (Dobrev), a writer from L.A. who thinks she’s met her perfect match on a dating app, only to learn that she’s been catfished when she flies 3,000 miles to surprise him for the holiday season. I’d seen the film advertised on Netflix before its release, but I’d nearly forgotten about it when my best friend, who lives in Spain, suggested we buddy-watch it – and I’m so glad I said yes! Having loved Nina Dobrev as Elena Gilbert on The Vampire Diaries I was excited to see how she portrayed this new character, unlucky in love and somehow making a career out of it. Considering she’d had so little luck in love, but hadn’t given up hope and was still trying online dating, it was incredibly wholesome watching her character fall for this amazing person that she meets online with whom she seems to have a lot in common. There is an amazing sequence early on in the film during which she’s shown having an everlasting conversation on the phone with Josh,
her gorgeous dream man, during which she does a myriad of things while talking with him. There’s one scene in particular that I absolutely loved, in which they’re shown side-by-side on top her bed covers, as he reads a novel that her late mother would read to her at night to help her fall asleep; which I thought an excellent example of screenwriting. I felt for her therefore, when she travelled all that way to surprise him, only to discover that he wasn’t exactly who she expected and was understandably upset and annoyed by the deception and the truth that she had been “catfished.” Despite this fact, Natalie stays and experiences Christmas with Josh’s family – although his older brother (Shum Jr.) doesn’t exactly take to her, and the movie retains its wholesome element while also taking on a comedic air that carries through to the end. What I love about the film is that it combines romance and comedy with wholesomeness, but also reinforces the message that it’s always best to be yourself.
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ZACK SNYDER’S
FILM OF THE MONTH
JUSTICE LEAGUE BY ANONYMOUS
Zack Snyder’s Justice League is the director’s 2021 re-release of the 2017 superhero film of the same name (both distributed Warner Bros. Pictures). Zack Snyder’s Justice League, dubbed as “the Snydercut” by fans, proves itself to be a masterpiece. It is without a doubt the best film in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), perhaps the best DC film since Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight (2008). The director of the film, Zack Snyder, embraces the creative freedom he was given to create such a surreal film that perfectly connects itself with the DCEU’s continuity. I guess you could call the Snydercut a different film from its predecessor. After several conflicts over the film’s creative direction and the tragic passing of Snyder’s daughter, Warner Bros. hired Joss Whedon (director of Marvel’s The Avengers, 2012), to complete post-production. This resulted in several scenes being added, removed, and re-shot, which changed the film entirely. The character development in the film was perfectly crafted. Each hero was seen to be suffering their own personal matters, and we could see them slowly evolving as the story unfolded. Particularly Cyborg, played by Ray Fisher, and the Flash, played by Ezra
Miller. Both heroes proved themselves to be the real emotional aspects of the film, unlike in the theatrical version where both characters were lost potentials. Not to forget, the acting was incredible. Each actor, from Ben Affleck’s Batman to Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman, knew how to embrace their comic book counterparts and represented what each character embodied: hope, fear, and justice. Unlike 2017’s Justice League, the Snydercut provided DC fans with spectacular action sequences, no corny jokes, no sexualisation of female characters, and no CGI moustaches! Just brilliantly produced fight scenes with quality CGI/ sfx. In addition, the villains, Steppenwolf and Darkseid, really proved themselves to be serious threats. Because of Snyder’s incredible storytelling, he was able to develop Steppenwolf as a character and made me sympathise with him. Which is odd because many superhero films don’t do that.
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But is it perfect? Almost. There were a few problems, such as scenes being dragged out for too long. Perhaps if some of the scenes were cut slightly, then the film would not be such a drag and only the main plot points would remain present. An example would be a scene between Lois Lane, Superman’s lover, and his mother, Martha Kent. The scene was perfect until something, which will not be spoiled, took place, and took away part of the impact it had on Lane’s character arc. In addition, Wonder Woman’s new “lamentation” themed background music was overused. It would have been fine using it to introduce her and for her final scene in the epic battle against Steppenwolf, but definitely not every time we see her! Overall, Zack Snyder’s Justice League was the only DC Extended Universe film to not have any major problems, which is great seeing how the comic book film
franchise has had its ups and downs when it comes down to critical reception. The film also proves that Snyder is an incredible filmmaker and deserves the full credit for his work of art. Unlike his previous films, Man of Steel (2013) and Batman v Superman (2016), the Snyder cut was the type of superhero film which made fans want to read an actual comic book. Something that a lot of mainstream audiences don’t do! In conclusion, the film deserves 5 stars!
Despite the film’s worldwide success, the Snydercut is not getting a sequel… yet! Which is why DC fans across the world have reunited once again. After campaigning for the release of the Snydercut, they are now fighting for the “Snyderverse” to be restored.
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PUZZLE FILMS BY CAMERON LUSTY
a film? There are What is a Puzzle t ha w finitions for few different de m as ered a puzzle fil id ns co be d ul co ea of Film ly researched ar gh ou or th a t it is no ore I go over latively new. Bef re is d an s ie ud st want to s’ definitions, I st ri eo th t en er the diff uzzle Film’. y of the term ‘P or st hi e th r ve co
HISTORY David Bordwell, a film theorist whose works include cognitive film theory and narratology, highlighted in his book the “surge of complex narratives” as early as the 40s to the 50s and noted that it occurred again from the mid-60s to the early 70s. Charles Ramirez Berg in his article agrees with Bordwell that Puzzle films have been around since the 40s by citing Citizen Kane (1941) as one of the first examples. But when was the term first coined? Kiss and Willemsen claim the origin of “the term ‘puzzle film’ stems from Norman N. Holland’s 1963 article entitled ‘Puzzling Movies’, in which he referred to a new genre of European art films of the late 1950s and early 1960s”. Interestingly, they note it was to describe a genre of films originally but then the term was revived by Bordwell to describe more
of a classification of films then a genre. This illustrates that while the complex narratives of ‘Puzzle films’ existed in cinema for decades, they weren’t comprehensively defined until relatively recently. David Bordwell’s book Narration in the Fiction Film (1985) laid the foundation for what would become puzzle film theory with its assessment of different narrative types (a must read for any film studies students/fans). Bordwell then coined the term himself which was then applied and developed by other theorists such as Elliot Panek, Kiss and Willemson, and others. Kiss and Willemson noted that “recent film history has seen the emergence of a range of films, both surprising cult hits and major blockbusters, making clever use of confusing plots”, including Mulholland Drive (2001) and Memento (2000). Charles
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Ramirez Berg concurs and Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction (1994) as inspiring the new wave of films, in what he dubs the ‘Tarantino Effect’, which he defines as “unorthodox film narration”.
This is achieved through “unusual story structure, violations of causal logic, or flaunted, unresolved gaps in the chain of story. This feels much clearer and specific than Bordwell’s definition.
So, it feels we are in a new wave of puzzle films (I’m sure you can think of more), but how do you define it? In the next section we will look at the different theorists’ different definitions, but spoilers: it’s not so cut and dry.
Kiss and Willemsen took Panek’s term further and developed the “impossible puzzle film”. They define this as films “characterised by pervasive paradoxes, uncertainties, incongruities, and ambiguities in the narration” which provoke a “state of ongoing confusion throughout the viewing experience”.
DEFINITIONS When it comes to defining puzzle films there isn’t a rigid definition but more a vague set of conditions that a film can meet to be considered a puzzle film. Warren Buckland sums it up best by saying that each puzzle film is in “possession of a clustered subset of some set of properties, no one of which is necessary, but which together are sufficiently many” to be considered a Puzzle film. Straightforward right? David Bordwell does provide a clear characteristic of a ‘puzzle film’: “the complex telling (plot, narration) of a simple or complex story (narrative)”. In other words, the content of the story (the narrative) can be simple but the way it’s told (the plot/narration) must be complex.
So, as you can see there are a few different types of puzzle films, and they are all open to interpretation and criticism. If you want to read more about puzzle films then check out the following books: Narration in the Fiction Film (Bordwell); Puzzle Films: Complex Storytelling in Contemporary Cinema and Hollywood Puzzle Films (both by Warren Buckland); Impossible Puzzle Films: A cognitive Approach to Complex Cinema (Kiss and Willemson); The Poet and The Detective: Defining the Psychological Puzzle Film (Panek); and for an intro, then Janet Steiger’s Complex Narratives, an Introduction.
Elliot Panek in his article for Film Criticism Journal (2006) developed his own category of films that deviate from Bordwell’s classical narration: “psychological puzzle films”. He defines it as films that “possess narratives in which the orientation is not immediately clear, thus creating doubt in the viewer’s mind as to how reliable, knowledgeable, self-conscience, and communicative the narration is”. 16 • I SSUE 46 • MY LIFE
GAMING CO-EDITOR LOUISA SADLER
THE NEW ANIMAL CROSSING UPDAT
E
BY LOUISA SADLER
As a fan of Animal Crossing, I was looking forward to playing the new major update that was released EARLY on 4th November as opposed to releasing on 5th November. I thought I would share some of my thoughts and experiences whilst playing the new update.
COOKING AND FARMING The cooking and farming aspect of the new update is really cool. Instead of only planting flowers and pumpkins, you can now grow your own carrots, tomatoes, wheat, sugarcane and potatoes to help craft recipes that you find either in Nooks Cranny, bottles from the beach and on mystery islands and from villagers themselves. It evens allows you to use the fruit from your fruit trees and create
and cook recipes from fish that you catch; finally giving the dreaded Sea Bass a reason to be caught! So far, I’ve managed to grow everything apart from potatoes and have managed to obtain around 30ish recipes. Some of my recipes are sitting on my kitchen table which include organic bread and a cherry smoothie. I’m looking forward to seeing what new recipes I will be cooking up in the future!
BREWSTER Back when Animal Crossing was on the DS, I remember visiting Brewster in the museum for this Coffee and I’m so glad I get to do it again with New Horizons thanks to this update. I like that Brewster
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is upstairs in the museum this time round and I love the little sign next to the café. I also like that you get to see people like Isabelle actually get out of the office, even if it is just a little cutscene moment. I like that if you buy one coffee every day, you will get rewards from Brewster. My first reward was a Brewster shaped cookie recipe that you can cook, and this came after buying a cup of coffee 5 days in a row. Be warned, it is limited to one cup of coffee per day and not multiple cups of coffee per day. If you have amiibo cards, then you can invite them to the café to have coffee with you there.
sound of the shooting stars and spent most of my time looking up at the sky and waiting for them so I could wish on them for their star fragments. What made shooting star island that little bit extra special was that the rocks, which you normally get stone, clay and iron nuggets or gold, had star fragments in them instead! Some of these fragments were normal ones but most of them were star sign fragments. I collected Libra, Pisces, Sagittarius, and Leo star fragments so I can now craft more star sign DIYs now as I have the fragments that I didn’t have before.
HARV’S ISLAND
KAPP’N I think Kapp’n Island tours has to be my favourite part of the update so far. I love that Kapp’n can take us to islands that we cannot experience with Dodo airlines. These islands can have new bushes, new DIY recipes and Gyroid fragments to find. These islands can even be a different time of day or season! One island I visited had vines growing off the cliffs that you can climb up and down from, saving you from having to get your ladder out every time you wanted to climb a cliff. You could take these vines off the cliffs on the mystery island and take them to your own island and place them on your own cliffs. Another island had these cliffs along with glowing moss that you could take home to your island and craft DIYs out of them (if you had the recipes of course). My favourite island I went to was the shooting star island. I went during the day and whilst listening to the song Kapp’n sings, I saw the sky change from day to night which I thought was really cool. As soon as I was on the island, I heard the
The final feature of this update which I will talk about is the upgrade to Harv’s Island. Rather than being just a place for photography, Harv’s island has now expanded to create a mini marketplace for our visiting shops. Harv’s island allows us to have Redd, Leif, Saharah and other mobile shops to have a permanent residence on Harv’s island so you can never miss out on a piece of art, rug or flower again! They also have new shops we can use as well. We can also obtain a fortune teller, people who refresh furniture and one that allows you to access home storage while out and about on your island! I’ve got Redd, Leif and Rhys and Cyrus on Harv’s island so far and am looking to get Saharah next. Overall, I am really enjoying this new update to Animal Crossing and love the new features that have been added. It has made Animal Crossing even more enjoyable to play and I look forward to spending a further 500 hours playing this game.
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ANIMAL CROSSING
NEW HORIZONS: UPDATE 2.0 BY KAY SABERTON
I’ve been playing Animal Crossing in some form or another since I was eight years old. It’s a game franchise that I hold close to my heart, so when the announcement came that a huge update was dropping for Animal Crossing New Horizons, I was beyond excited. The update includes new hairstyles, DIYS, a brand-new cooking feature and recipes, and much much more. It also promises the return of previous NPCs such as Brewster, Harriet, and Leif to name a few. The game brings both new and old players together in a way that continues to evolve and expand its gameplay. So, if you’re new to the game, or only just getting around to playing the update, this is what you’ll want to do first.
1. TALK TO BLATHERS To unlock Brewster’s Coffee Shop, you’ll first need to talk to Blathers at the museum who suggests finding Brewster and inviting him to join the museum. As I found out, unless you do this first, you won’t be able to find Brewster when you sail to the islands.
2. SAIL TO THE ISLANDS Head down to the docks to find Kapp’n waiting in his boat. It’ll cost you 1,000 Nook Miles per trip, but hopefully you’ll find Brewster on your first few tries. When you get to the island, you’ll notice some new additions. See those holes in the ground? Dig them up to find gyroid fragments! Take them back with you, plant and water them, wait until morning and you’ll find a gyroid. These are from the older games and a fun addition to have in New Horizons. If you’re lucky, you’ll find yourself on a crop island filled with wheat, pumpkins, tomatoes that you can use in recipes (but don’t worry there are other ways to get the crops on your island!)
3. FIND BREWSTER You’ll soon find Brewster wandering around one of the islands. After talking to him you can invite him back to your island. Then, when you next talk to Blathers he will announce that the museum will close for a day to build the new shop.
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Other vendors include Katrina, Harriet, Redd, and Kicks. I definitely think it’s worth saving up to unlock these NPCs as you can more easily purchase artwork from Redd to complete your museum, Harriet gives you bonus hairstyles, and Leif lets you buy crops instead of waiting for crop island to spawn.
5. GO TO WORK (DLC) Once the building is complete, when you head into the museum you can find Brewster’s up the stairs on the left-hand side. As in previous games, you can sit and buy a cup of coffee. I haven’t gotten that far yet, but I imagine as in other games, if you buy a certain amount of coffee Brewster will offer you a job making coffee for your island residents!
The main feature of the new update is the DLC – Happy Homes Paradise. I preordered the DLC straight away as I enjoyed playing Happy Homes on my Nintendo 3DS and wanted to experience it on the Switch.
4. GO TO HARV’S ISLAND There has also been an expansion on Harv’s Island, a place I rarely went to before the update. Harv explains that he wants to create a community of merchants on his island. Now, old NPC characters and their services can be unlocked for 100,000 bells each. The first one I unlocked was Leif’s cart as I hoped that I could purchase crop starters from him – and I was correct! I currently have potatoes and wheat growing on my island and I cannot wait to start cooking.
After heading to the airport, you can fly to a remote island where Lottie is waiting to recruit you as part of her team. She offers you the chance to design homes (interior and exterior) for island visitors according to a theme. I really enjoyed designing my first home and found it to be quite therapeutic! If you like designing rooms and fancy switching off whilst doing it, the DLC is worth it.
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ART
SHORT STORY
CO-EDITORS KAY SABERTON & CHLOE SHAWCROSS
A VERY STUDENT
CHRISTMAS BY MAT T NEWMAN Christmas is the most joyful time of the year, or it’s supposed to be. It often entails a considerable deal of travel, stress, and constant worry for us students. It can be a source of extreme misery for those of us trapped in the tumultuous world of student housing. But I’ve decided that this year it won’t be. My flatmates, Adelaide and George, are kind, but like most people, they have their own flaws. Adelaide often suffers from grandiose ideas, and frequently flings her wealth in the faces of others, something that should not be done at a season of giving. George, on the other hand, is the polar opposite; he is riddled with insecurity and poor self-esteem. I consider myself ordinary, but I can be a bit eccentric.
So, it was going to take a miracle to have an enjoyable Christmas confined to our small flat. Adelaide, recently returned from Waitrose, barges into my room with Christmas decorations swinging from her body. ‘It’s time to put up that tree you brought last week,’ she announces. She stands over me impatiently. I tear myself away from favourite book and sigh. I grab the box with the baubles neatly wrapped inside. Then George stumbles in. ‘I’m not sure whether we should put the star on top or the angel,’ he whispers, mostly to himself. ‘Pick the one you think looks best,’ I say, smiling reassuringly at George.
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He flashes a smile at me before returning to his room to retrieve the topper. I had been distracted by George so only now noticed that Adelaide was adorning the tree with tinsel in a garish manner. ‘Please, stop what you are doing. That looks awful, Ade,’ I exclaim. ‘What? Why? They’re only decorations. Plus, I bought this expensive tinsel, so it’ll look wonderful,’ she replies confidently. ‘Ade, Christmas isn’t all about you or money. It’s a time of giving and spreading happiness. I don’t appreciate you taking over the tree like this,’ I reply, slightly agitated.
Adelaide looks down and sighs heavily. ‘You’re right,’ she says. ‘It’s just… it’s been so difficult not having my family with me this Christmas. They… I can’t go home this year.’ George returns with the star and immediately tries to console Adelaide who has started crying. ‘Hey, it’s all right. We all get upset sometimes,’ he says soothingly. ‘We need to stick together and make this a really merry Christmas, yeah?’ We both nod in response. After a short time, we all stand to continue working on the tree. George hands me the star, which he has proudly chosen to be the centrepiece of our tree. I place the star at the top and then I step back to admire our work. I never could have imagined that the three of us would be able to work together to create something so lovely. George disappears and comes back in a few minutes later with some hot chocolate. ‘You’ve done an incredible job with this hot chocolate, George. Delicious!’ I exclaim. ‘Thank you,’ he replies. ‘The tree looks amazing. Well done guys!’ We continue to stand admiring the tree whilst drinking our warm beverages. I think about all the wonderful things that makes Christmas so delightful. It may not have been your typical Christmas with family and loved ones, but we gave it our all. And it turned out to be a very student Christmas after all.
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TRIGGER WARNING: Sexual harassment, self-harm, bullying, eating disorder, restrictive eating.
BLAME BY AMELIA RIGHELATO SUT TON I used to blame my skirt. If it was longer it wouldn’t draw unwanted eyes.
If it was longer, they wouldn’t whistle on the walk home. If it was longer, they wouldn’t slap my ass in the corridor. I used to blame my lack of makeup. If I wore more, they wouldn’t look so disgusted. If I wore more, they wouldn’t judge the bags resting under my eyes. If I wore more maybe they would smile instead of looking the other way. I used to blame my bare legs. If I covered up, they wouldn’t judge my curves. If I covered up, they wouldn’t point out the patch I missed shaving. If I covered up maybe I wouldn’t notice the unwanted stares. I used to blame what I eat. If I missed a meal my stomach might not roll. If I missed a meal, I wouldn’t have to adjust my skirt when I sit. If I missed a meal, I might look like those Barbie dolls from when I was a kid. I look down at the faded scars covered by my school jumper. They remind me of all the times I thought about missing a meal. The extra time I spent in the morning putting on makeup and tights. I stare back at my naked face in the mirror instead of avoiding the reflection. I look at my bare legs and stomach rolls that never hurt anybody. And I realise, it is not my fault, they are the ones to blame.
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EARLY 2022
YA RELEASES TO LOOK OUT FOR BY ROSIE WEDGE I say it pretty much every year at this point, but I feel like next year is lined up to be one of the best for YA book releases! I recommend checking out blogposts on Goodreads and Epic Reads if you want extensive lists of what is in store, but I’ve compiled a list of a few books I’m most excited for in the first half of 2022… and those I may have already pre-ordered!
GALLANT BY V.E. SCHWAB (March 1st) If you’re anybody that knows anything about YA literature, then you probably already know that V.E. Schwab has another book coming out next year. This time she’s blessing us with some Gothic, light-horror wonderment. Schwab has one of the most distinct writing voices in YA literature right now, and so understandably the book community is buzzing for this release!
IMAGES BY SOPHIE DEBENHAM
THIS IS WHY THEY HATE US BY AARON H. ACEVES (March 29th) If the cover of this book alone was not enough to suck you in, then let me try to tempt you further. Aceves, a bisexual Mexican-American author, is blessing us with another LGBTQ+ contemporary romance, following Quique over one summer as he tries to get over the guy he’s been crushing on by pursuing other romantic interests. But as you’ve probably already guessed, getting his crush, Saleem, off his mind is easier said than done. The biggest spanner in the works is that Saleem has gone home to the girl his parents are trying to set him up with. Aceves promises both laughter and tears from this one, and I cannot wait to have my heart broken and repaired over and over by this book!
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ONCE UPON A K-PROM BY KAT CHO (May 17th)
SO THIS IS EVER AFTER BY F. T. LUKENS (March 29th) March 29th is going to be a glorious day for LGBTQ+ releases, and this is possibly the book I’m most excited for. LGBTQ+ YA fantasies are my kryptonite, and I cannot stop gawking at this cover. And if that’s not enough, this book is being described as Carry On meets Arthurian legend, with a love-was-rightin-front-of-you-all-along romance! The synopsis is also giving me strong Master of One vibes, which is currently my favourite YA fantasy of the year, and so my hopes are high for this one.
This book is going to be everything! We follow Elena Soo, who’s just trying to live her usual suburban life in Illinois, when her childhood BFF (who just so happens to now be a huge K-Pop idol) shows up on her doorstep and asks her to prom. Because prom isn’t as big of a thing here in the UK as it is in America, I love living vicariously through YA characters at these events and I’m super excited for the K-Pop and Asian representation. This book is said to be perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Sandhya Menon, both of whom I am a huge fan of. I think this is going to be a perfect fluffy romance book for Spring 2022!
THE LESBIANA’S GUIDE TO CATHOLIC SCHOOL BY SONORA REYES (May 17th) This book sounds like it’s going to be such a fun time. Yamilet Flores finds herself in a predominantly white Catholic school, where seemingly the only pro is the fact that no one here knows she’s gay, having been outed by her ex-best friend. However, it’s not long before she finds herself crushing on the only openly queer girl at school. But she’s not ready to come out just yet, out of fear of disappointing her mum. Whilst Reyes says this book is going to be fun, and full of amazing romantic yearning, there’s going to be some poignant moments too, and I cannot wait to see how the author blends these together to bring us this amazing YA contemporary novel. 25 • A R T • MY LIFE
LIGHT UP YOUR WINTER
WITH ILLUMINATED TRAILS IN NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK
BY ELMA GLASGOW Discover amazing arts, timeless heritage, and cultural wonders in Norfolk and Suffolk. From concerts to comedians, literature to landscapes, and palaces to puppeteers – whatever you’re into, Head East. Head East is a celebration of arts, culture and heritage in the East of England, delivered around a series of ‘headline’ place-specific cultural initiatives. Led by the New Anglia Culture Board, the year-long targeted cultural tourism campaign aims to promote and build a national profile of the East as a ‘must see’ UK cultural destination. The original campaign was focused on 2020, but the pandemic triggered a strategic re-focus. Head East is designed to amplify the profile of Norfolk and Suffolk’s outstanding cultural offer and to boost the gradual recovery, adaptation and re-stabilisation of the region’s visitor economy in the wake of the pandemic.
CHRIS LEVINE AT HOUGHTON HALL, HOUGHTON, NORFOLK 22 Oct – 23 Dec houghtonhall.com Houghton Hall in Norfolk is set to be transformed by a major solo exhibition of contemporary British artist, Chris Levine, 528 Hz Love Frequency. Marking the inaugural winter show in the historic grounds of this prestigious art venue, this exhibition running between 22 October and 23 December 2021 will feature a series of new holographic artworks, print works and large immersive laser and LED installations. This is a body of new work created specifically for the unique environs of the house and grounds. Each distinctive work is characteristic of Levine’s unique and cutting-edge work with the meditative and immersive properties of light and sound.
ILLUMINATED GARDEN TRAIL, HELMINGHAM HALL, SUFFOLK 17 Nov – 19 Dec | helmingham.com/ events/illuminated-garden-trail Make the most of the dark winter nights by stepping into a magical world of light, colour and sound, as you explore the grounds of Helmingham Hall adorned with thousands of lights transforming the gardens into an enchanted winter wonderland. 26 • I SSUE 46 • MY LIFE
ENCHANTED JOURNEY OF LIGHT, THURSFORD, NORFOLK 17 Nov – 13 Dec | thursford.com/enchanted-journey-of-light/ Your journey will progress into the Santa’s Magical Journey Building (sadly Santa is STILL ice-skating so will not be attending the event). You will travel past the penguins and polar bears to the giant-sized teddy bears! Get ready to see how the elves have loaded Santa’s sleigh, then past the busy elves hard at work in the toy factory using the wondrous wrapping machine! Throughout your journey you’ll meet lots of fantasy land characters including the snowman family, make sure you watch out for their snowballs!
SANDRINGHAM WINTER LIGHT TRAIL, SANDRINGHAM, NORFOLK 12 Nov – 19 Dec | luminate.live/ sandringham-estate Nestled deep within Her Majesty’s private Estate, awaits a spectacular, illuminated trail, full of wonder and intrigue, to delight and enthral your senses. As darkness descends, join us on our enchanting journey, as we weave a captivating light trail through the Country Park at Sandringham, the muchloved rural retreat of Her Majesty. Immerse yourself in our mesmerising mile long trail, with stunning lighting elements and fabulous light play, all set to ambient music.
LOVE LIGHT NORWICH, NORFOLK 17 – 19 Feb | lovelightnorwich.co.uk Love Light Norwich returns with stunning new installations, projections, and performances all designed to amaze and delight. This free light festival makes Norwich shine with three days of enchanting experiences, open to everybody. See muchloved landmarks transformed into vibrant artworks, enjoy fantastic performances from renowned artists, join in with the city centre procession, and become part of the festival with interactive installations. Themed around love and belonging, Love Light Norwich takes the dark February nights and conjures a beautiful experience for residents and visitors alike.
SPECTACLE OF LIGHT, HAUGHLEY PARK, STOWMARKET, SUFFOLK 4 – 27 Feb | haughleypark.co.uk/ public-events/spectacle Discover the night-time wonder of Haughley Park and its gardens brought to life as you follow a beautiful new Spectacle of Light and Sound around the glorious gardens. Explore this magical illuminated trail marvelling at the glorious gardens and majestic trees all lit under the stars. Enjoy the wonderful music as you discover each new secret of this romantic environment. Discover the amazing Carpet of Colour and the flickering Field of Fire. Walk through the Kaleidoscope, gaze at the Mirror balls, Moroccan lanterns and much, much more!
For more cultural events in Norfolk and Suffolk, visit Head East regional culture tourism campaign blogs and more: visiteastofengland.com/head-east Follow Head East on social media.
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PHOTOGRAPHY Q&A
WITH ELLIE SHARP
PA R T O N E
What made you start photography?
Who is your biggest inspiration?
I first got into photography when I went on holiday to Belgium. I was taking photos of architecture, nature and interesting objects at the age of 12 but got into portraiture when I turned 14 and had been bought my first DSLR: the Canon 400D. Since then, I have developed my portraiture into creative, editorial fashion concepts.
My main inspiration is my aunt; she has always been so encouraging towards me and my photography journey. She has experience in photography and is always happy to give me feedback and help me develop me ideas, her kindness never goes unappreciated. It really helps me grow as a young person in the creative industry.
Why do you feel like it’s important to raise awareness of topics that aren’t as well known? I create a lot of my art based around ideas of mental health and current problems in society, particularly in the media. Today, the media can easily trick people into believing just about anything, especially misconceptions about mental health. I feel educating people through visual imagery is a lot more impactful and relatable to an audience.
Catch part two of this Q&A with Ellie in the next issue of My Life.
Instagram: @elliee.photoss Website: www.elliesharp photography.myportfolio.com
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FASHION CO-EDITOR ELISE DIXON
ARE DESIGNER CLOTHES WORTH IT? ANONYMOUS Many people see designer clothes as not being worth it. Though in my personal opinion I think they are worth it if you can afford it. My father owned a few designer pieces, and due to them being taken care of, they have lasted over 20 years and are almost brand new. Statement pieces that are unique can be hard to come by, though designer clothes will tend to be on the side of being fresh and creative. As well as being unique so they are harder to replicate to be sold into the mainstream fast fashion industry. Seeing the creativity and the amount of time that goes into crafting some garments (which may also be tailored to a person’s body measurements and personalised
with little details), it is understandable why items of clothing have lasted so long and why they are expensive. Whilst buying cheap is better short term, clothes don’t last very long anymore, and can easily break such as ripping. Through having clothes that can last, it can be better for the planet as they are less likely to be thrown away and pollute the environment. Whereas fast fashion clothes are consistently being thrown away due to imperfections and just breaking within the first week of an individual having and wearing the item. So, in my opinion, if you can afford it and love designer statement pieces, I think they are definitely worth it!
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CHARITY SHOP TREASURES BY ELISE DIXON
I love charity shops! They are good for everyone. They are important for people who struggle to afford clothes, they are good for the environment to stop clothes being thrown away, and good for some fashionable pieces! I wish there were more charity shops around the country as they truly are beneficial to our society. To those who struggle to afford clothes, charity shops can be a life saver from getting children new trousers and tops and overall, anything that’s necessary. As children constantly grow, buying from a charity shop saves money and clothes can potentially be in brand new condition! People with brand new clothes can donate to charity shops to help other people who may be struggling and the people who donate also save even further pollution and waste going into landfills. One of the best reasons, is that money that is earnt by the charity shops, goes to charity! Such as Cancer Research and British Heart Foundation. Lastly, they are amazing for finding some unique pieces to add to your wardrobe! As all people of all ages, all backgrounds and lives can donate. You never know what you can find, and you can expand your style and experiment through finding pieces. I think everyone should be shopping at charity shops as you never know what you can find, and it benefits everyone!
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BEAUTY
SUPPORTED BY
CO-EDITOR LIBBY DAWSON
BEST BEAUTY ADVENT CALENDARS 2021 BY LIBBY DAWSON
Beauty advent calendars are always a hot topic around this time of year and I’ve had a great time scoping out all of the best ones to share with you! Look Fantastic is known for spoiling us every Christmas but this year, I really think that they have gone the extra mile. Not only is it filled with 25 products (of course) from many of our favourite brands, but the contents come to a total of over £450, yet it’ll only cost you £85! That is one of the biggest discounts on a beauty calendar that I have ever seen! Next… Charlotte Tilbury. I know that this is a little bit of a high end brand with a slighty higher price point but I’ve decided to include it in my favourites because we all know that the products are destined to work their festive magic. It will cost you £150 but you are promised a few of their full sized products including… (spoiler!!!) their infamous Matte Revolution Pillow Talk Medium Lipstick. I think Charlotte Tilbury products are definitely worth the extra splurge and if you can’t treat yourself at Christmas, when can you? The calendar comes in a beautiful rose gold copper colour too.
Body Shop is another great high street retailer that is aiming to please throughout the festive season. This is because they are offering FOUR (yes…four) beauty advent calendars this year! There are many options to choose from and their cheapest one at £55 is full of mini products. This is perfect for lifelong lovers of the brand who can’t decide on their favourite scent, or for the newbies who want to discover something new; they really have thought of everything. Another brand offering unbelievable discounts this Christmas is Glossy Box. If you’re a subscriber to Glossy Box you will save a huge £380 on products (& even if you’re a non subscriber you will still save £360); 15 of which are full size! These calendars are super difficult to get hold of so you heard it here first, you need to sign up ASAP! I had to give a mention to one of my favourite brands, Benefit Cosmetics. They’re offering a 12 Days of Christmas beauty calendar and it’s full of their best selling (and all of my favourite) minis. It’s only costing you £58.50 and it would make for a perfect gift!
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BEAUTY STANDARDS IN SOCIETY TODAY BY NADINE MAT THEWS BY ELISE DIXON
In today’s world, beauty standards is an incredibly hot topic and something that without knowing, affects all of us. A year 10 student has shared her thoughts and experiences about being a young person living through the continuous pressures that society, our peers and the media place on us to conform… “I am sure you have all heard of beauty standards, maybe you’ve skipped past an Instagram post about it or perhaps purposely skipped past an article about it in a magazine, but the question is, why do we ignore it but conform to it? A little about me, my name is Nadine Matthews. I am aged 14, 4’11 in height and considered overweight for my age. I have acne, blackheads and I am a Filipino British citizen. Stereotypically, I do not fit into society’s idea of ‘beautiful’. Someone who would be considered accepted in society’s beauty standards for girls, would be someone with blonde hair, white and pale skin, blue-green eyes, with a slim waist. From a young age I grew up watching Disney, Monster High and Barbie films, which I am sure a lot of young girls like me did as well. Because of this, I would often look at how skinny, clear-skinned and beautiful the characters were. I wondered for a long time why I had no resemblance to those characters, there was not (and still hardly is) any representation for young
boys and girls of realistic body types and appearances with “flaws”. I think it’s important to highlight the things that not only make us human, but also makes us stand out as us. When I was 9 and in primary school, I found myself comparing my body to the other girls in my class, I didn’t like how when I sat down my thighs would spread out or how my tummy rolls would show. I am now currently in secondary school and as I am a quiet person who observes a lot, it makes listening easier to hear what people in my year think about beauty standards. I personally find the things that the boys in my year say about girls and boys, repulsive. I have heard them call people ‘flatter than an ironing board’, ‘god your legs look like tree stumps’, ‘oink, oink fatty’, ‘your legs are like chopsticks’. However, us girls are just as guilty, I’ve heard girls body shame the girl that they are in ‘beef’ with and even sometimes behind their own friends backs. I believe that this name calling, and internalised judgement has stemmed from society’s beauty standards. Us as humans each
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have our own idea as to what is ‘beautiful’ and what is ‘ugly’, which means everyone’s opinions are different. Maybe not everyone follows the pattern of unhealthy beauty standards for men and women, but if you are not doing anything to help stop this then you are also part of the problem. I asked my friends, Millie, Maddy, Jess and Emily what they thought. They said, social media has had a huge impact on our generation! Photoshop is used so much that it gives unrealistic ideas of bodies. They also mentioned that occasional comments from the people you are closest to like your friends or family can really reinforce an unhealthy relationship with food or our bodies. Models and the knowledge of their eating habits in order to be ‘runway ready’ is also damaging and the models that are supposed to represent the plus-sized community are normally a very healthy weight and are far from plussized, this is another reason why we need more actual ‘plus-sized’ men and women in the media.
I feel that there are a lot of improvements to be made and I believe we should start, as individuals, calling out people who are making these awful comments to people. Another improvement that could possibly be made is teachers educating students to not conform to these beauty standards that are unrealistic and toxic for us as the younger generation. I completely understand that it might take a while for us a community to unlearn all these stereotypes and expectations we have for each other, but it is better to try than sit back and do nothing. Young people spend time staring at themselves in the mirror wondering what they could change about their appearance to appear somewhat prettier or more handsome just to ‘fit in’, which just demonstrates to us how we have adapted and followed these beauty standards. A dream I have is that one day we will focus on achievements, personality and what they have done as a person rather than looking at what they look like.”
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TRAVEL CO-EDITOR ELISE DIXON
Travelling and your
CARBON FOOTPRINT BY KATIE SAWYER
As a person who likes to see the wonderful landscapes that this world has to offer, I try to do it in the most environmentally friendly way. However, the Covid-19 pandemic came and shut us off from the world. Fortunately, this led to the skies being quiet as people stayed at home instead of going abroad. This meant less planes and cruises polluting our world. Aircrafts are responsible for 12% of daily CO2 emissions and the trails left by planes go to the ozone layer; and stop heat from escaping meaning that the planet will heat up; which leads to melting polar caps and rising sea levels.
Every cruise passenger is responsible for 9.1 tonnes of CO2 emissions; in total all sea vehicles are responsible for 2.5 % of all greenhouse gasses.
On average one car produces 9.6 tonnes of CO2 per year. Overall, Travel produces 29% of the world’s harmful emissions. Before you next travel abroad or somewhere far away try to neutralise the amount of carbon you are giving to the world by planting trees; and when travelling locally try to take public transport, car share, or walk or ride a bike.
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FESTIVALS AND CELEBRATIONS From Around The World! BY ELOISE BRINDLE
Around the globe many cultures celebrate various things. This may be all the way down to religion or national holidays. Each country and culture are different… A festival celebrated by many folks of the Hindu faith and also the general population is Holi: Holi Is considered a Hindu festival that celebrates love, spring, and new life. Many families hold ceremonies but for the majority Holi is about FUN! It’s a
vibrant festival that consists of dancing, singing and also the throwing of vivid powdered paint and vibrant water. Holi is known as the festival of colours Holi and is celebrated at the end of winter; this is normally the last full moon day of the Hindu luni-solar calendar month marking the beginning of spring. The dates for Holi are never identical. Holi normally falls in March, but it may also occasionally fall in late February.
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The origins of Holi come from a mixture of mythology including the favoured legend of Hiranyakashyap. He was a demon king who wanted to be immortal. He wanted to be worshipped as god. His own son Prahlada chose to worship Vishnu rather than his own father, this offended Hiranyakashyap deeply. Hindus light bonfires on Holi to represent the triumph of good over evil. Holi appeals to me because it’s a vibrant, energetic two-day celebration of affection and colour. You see many festivals like Holi across the globe, but Holi is exclusive to itself.
Another festival celebrated by millions of people is Hanukkah… Hanukkah is known as a Jewish holiday which celebrates the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrian army. It also celebrates a miracle that occurred during this time, where a day’s supply of oil allowed the menorah to keep a temple in Jerusalem lit for 8 days. Hanukkah observes when the Greek empire had power in 2nd century Jerusalem. In 168 BC king Antiochus IV Epiphanes outlawed Jewish practices damaging the Jewish Temple by installing an altar to sacrifice pigs. Hanukkah is appealing because of the dedication that was put in by people of the Jewish faith and how determined they were to get what they wanted. Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days every year. it occurs between late November and December.
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MY PLANET CO-EDITOR LIBBY DAWSON
OUR PLANET Photo Album
Thetford Forest, Suffolk
BY LIBBY DAWSON AND SOPHIE DEBENHAM
If you’re following this series, you’ll know that we started a new Our Planet Photo Album series, featuring your photos of our gorgeous planet, nature and animals. It’s important to be reminded of the many natural beauties that surround us so if you think you’ve got any images that you’d like to be featured in our new series, please email them to me: libby@student-life.co
Aldeburgh,
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Suffolk
The Orwell Bridge, Suffolk
Navacerrada Mountains, Spain
Madrid, Spain
Orwell Country Park, Suffolk Orwell Country Park, Suffolk
Frinton Beach, Essex
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WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE WORLD?
BY FEBA SEBASTIAN
The world is a very busy place, and it’s hard to stay on top of everything. So here are a few events which took place over the last month...
VIOLENCE AND TRAGEDIES GRIP VARIOUS COUNTRIES: On Monday, October 4th, violence erupted in India after a car ran over two farmers who were protesting. After the two farmers were struck, violence broke out. This resulted in the death of at least 8 people. The farmers have been protesting since the end of September. On Thursday, October 7th, at least 33 people were injured after a train collision occurred in Tunisia. An investigation was ordered to discover the cause of the crash. On Wednesday, October 13th, at least 5 people died after a bow and arrow attack in Norway. The suspect is in custody and has been charged. Police are still seeking a motive. It is unclear whether this is a terrorist attack or a mental health issue. On Thursday, October 14th, Beirut saw some of the worst violence in its recent years. Dozens of protesters were marching towards the Justice Palace when gunmen began firing at them from rooftops. At least 5 people died and another 30 were injured as a result of the shooting. The attack lasted for hours as citizens sought shelter. On Friday, October 15th, Sir David Amess of the UK was fatally stabbed while meeting with the constituents. Amess was a member of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party. The attack shook the nation and prompted more conversation regarding security.
UNREST IN AFGHANISTAN: On Monday, October 4th, Taliban targeted a Kabul Mosque and left multiple civilians dead. The mosque was filled with people attending a funeral. On Friday, October 8th, there was a deadly suicide blast at the Shia Mosque in north Afghanistan. There were at least 46 people dead and another 143 were injured. On Saturday, October 9th, the US and Afghanistan held their first face-to-face talk since the withdrawal. The two groups agreed to uphold the terms outlined in the Doha agreement in 2020. The US also agreed to help deliver Covid vaccines and humanitarian aid.
39 M •YMPYLAPN LAE NE MY LIFELIFE 39 • T •T • S TUDENT
KIDNAPPING IN HAITI:
POSITIVE NEWS
On Monday, October 18th, it was reported that the previous Saturday, 17 missionaries from the US and Canada were kidnapped in Haiti. Among those kidnapped were five men, seven women and five children.
There’s not been much of it about recently, has there? Well, here are a few changes and updates.
INDIA – FLOODS AND LANDSLIDES: Heavy rainfall of over 400mm between 1st and 18th October has triggered floods and landslides in the state of Kerala. This affected 14 districts and resulted in 36 deaths. Nearly 5,000 people have been affected and are accommodated in over 100 relief camps. Heavy rain has also been affecting the Himalayan State of Uttarakhand (Northern India) triggering several landslides and causing flash floods that have resulted in casualties and severe damage.
UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE UK 2021: COP26 is the 2021 United Nations climate change conference. With the UK as President, COP26 takes place in Glasgow. For nearly three decades UN have been bringing together almost every country on Earth for global climate summits- called COPs. This stands for “Conference of the Parties”. In that time climate change has gone from being a fringe issue to a global priority.
COVID UPDATE: 8,009 new people had a confirmed 3 positive test result reported on 31st October 2021. accines are currently given in V 2 doses, at least 21 days apart. 9,955,853 people have been given a 4 first dose by the end of 30th October 2021. 5,697,856 people have been given 4 a second dose by the end of 30th October 2021. etween 25th October and 31st B October, there have been 1,099 deaths within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test. This shows an increase of 15.8% compared to the previous 7 days.
LOW-COST RAIL SERVICE: The UK got its first low-cost rail service promising a greener, cheaper, more comfortable alternative to flying on the UK’s busiest domestic route. Tickets on the all- electric trains cost from £14.90, with free Wi-Fi included.
The COP26 was held from Sunday 31st October 2021 to Friday 12th November 2021. The eyes of the world were on Glasgow, Scotland, as the United Nations climate summit took place.
4 0 • M Y PL A NE T • S TUDENT LIFE
4 0 • I SSUE 46 • MY LIFE
SEXUAL HEALTH CO-EDITOR RACHEL MITCHELL
Not all STIs have symptoms To be safe, always use a condom For more information search ‘protect against STIs’ © Crown copyright 2018 | SH2018-14
41 • SE XUA L H E A LT H • MY LIFE
UNDER 25? NEED CONFIDENTIAL ADVICE ABOUT SEX AND RELATIONSHIPS? Brook can help with that
brook.org.uk 42M• MY LIFE LIFE 42 • Y PI SSUE LA N E T46 •• S TUDENT
MENTAL HEALTH CO-EDITOR GLORIA DARGATZ
THE EAST OF ENGLAND’S FIRST DEDICATED CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL SEEKS PLANNING PERMISSION FOR EARLY DESIGNS The region’s first dedicated children’s hospital has taken another step forward this week by submitting a planning application to Cambridge City Council consisting of early designs for Cambridge Children’s Hospital.
research alongside clinical expertise in physical and mental child health, Cambridge Children’s Hospital will be a brand new state-of-the-art hospital designed to take care of the whole child, not just their illness.
The submission of the formal ‘reserved matters’ planning application builds on the existing outline planning permission which was granted for the site previously. The move comes after the early designs and floor plans were shared with the Council’s planning committee in August.
With an estimated total footprint of around 36,000sq m, including 5000sq m of research space, the drawings are an early indication of how this innovative hospital might look when it opens in 2025. The plans also include details of possible future development for the hospital beyond 2025.
Built on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, the hospital will care for children and young people from across the whole region – Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire - but also nationally and internationally, as a ‘hospital without walls’. Embedding genomic and psychological
Meanwhile, work continues on developing the Outline Business Case, which has to be approved by HM Treasury, and on the fundraising campaign which was announced earlier in 2021. There is still much further to go before building work can begin and the vision for this muchneeded facility is realised.
4 3 • M Y P LA N E T • MY L IFE
Andrew Tollick, Senior Programme Manager for Design and Construction, Cambridge Children’s Hospital, said: “This is a big milestone for Cambridge Children’s Hospital, not only in planning terms, but in sharing our vision for ‘a whole new way’: one that integrates children’s mental and physical health services alongside world-class research to provide holistic, personalised care in a state-of-the-art facility.” An international design team, comprised of experts from Turner & Townsend, Hawkins\Brown, White Arkitekter, Ramboll and MJ Medical, with support from Planning Consultants, Bidwells and Fire Consultants, Alfor, have been engaging with staff from across the partner organisations about how the hospital should work. Members of Cambridge Children’s Network, which is made up of children, young people, parents and carers from across the region, have also been instrumental in helping shape how the facility might look and feel in these early designs.
The environmental impact of CCH has been a major consideration in the development of these plans. Cambridge Children’s Hospital aims to be an exemplar in sustainability as part of its role in providing a safer future for all. The hospital will include as many outdoors spaces as possible, including gardens, courtyards and terraces to provide access to nature and spaces for play and relaxation that support biodiversity and wildlife. The main hospital building will itself be enclosed within a wide landscaped green perimeter that recreates the feel of a summer meadow.
Clinton Green, Director at Turner & Townsend and Design Team Project Director, said: “Reaching this major milestone is a great achievement and testament to the collective efforts and innovative approach from all involved. The design team have worked in close collaboration with the Client but also with young people, their families and staff to ensure that the design provides a welcoming and healing space for those who work or visit. We are looking forward to continuing this partnership approach as the Outline Business Case is concluded and the project moves into the next phase of development.” Building work is due to start in 2023 and Cambridge Children’s Hospital is due to open in 2025. The hospital will sit opposite the Rosie Maternity Hospital on Robinson’s Way.
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You are with your friend and they seem very quiet – you get the sense that they want to tell you something but they just can’t seem to.
Then they tell you that they have been abused. It can be really hard to know what to say and what to do. When the abuse is then reported, which is the right thing to do, unfortunately for a lot of people the world changes at that moment. What should be a moment of support, help, reassurance, relief and the start of being safe can often, in reality turn into confusion, uncertainty, loss of control and regret. This shouldn’t be how it is. You should be able to feel in control and informed. Despite the best efforts of police officers, social workers and other professionals, the reality of going through an investigation, waiting for legal processes and outcomes is difficult and long.
year to provide free, confidential support for young people 13+ who have or are experiencing abuse. Tope provides a quick response to young people who ask for help. We ensure that young people can express their needs, get help with self-esteem, build resilience, be provided with face-to-face support sessions and, if need be, receive therapy by fully qualified therapists. The sessions help young people understand what has happened and why abuse and trauma affects people so much, both at the time and in the future.
“ I now feel I am worth at something and recognise th I deserve a good life. I am r and starting Uni in Septembe pride I’m allowing myself to feel in my achievements”.
It has been far too long for this support to have become available for young people who have experienced abuse and who do not know who to tell, what to say, what will happen and whether they will be believed. Survivors in Transition (SiT) is a Charity in Suffolk which has supported adult survivors of sexual abuse for the last 11 years. The Tope project was set up last
Feedback from people who have had sessions to help them is incredibly positive. It is highly likely that most people know someone who has experienced some form of abuse or experienced abuse themselves. For many people it can be unclear where and how to get help. Most
45 • M E N TA L H E A LT H • MY LIFE
young people tell their friends first, which can be difficult for them and their friends – Tope can help you work out what to do and how you want to do it. You do not need to have reported the abuse which is what makes it a unique service in Suffolk – we’ll work at your pace and won’t do anything without discussing it with you first. We believe that you should have some control over this process. Jo Grant, the Project Manager is running focus groups to gather the voice and opinions of young people to shape how the service can best meet their needs. Tope needs to be easily accessible - young people need to know about it and be able to easily ask for the help that they deserve, and young people have a big part to play
in how that is delivered and how we raise awareness of it. Your input to help shape the service, provide feedback and receive some support is warmly invited – whether this is through providing feedback for social media communications, focus groups or just suggestions of how to we can best help then please do get in contact. It can be really challenging to know how to cope with trauma and abuse – if you need help get in touch through our website, there are loads of ways to make initial contact including a webchat service and a simple self-referral to get the support that you deserve.
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MY COFFEE POT BY GEORGIA ASHMAN The truth spills out of me just like the bottom of your morning coffee does as you empty it down the drain before seeing me. 9:00. Although we have to distance ourselves because of the virus in the air, the coffee beans grinded between your teeth still manage to travel towards me with every ‘mhm, and how do you feel about this?’. But I’m scared to let my coffee spill down the drain, just like yours, because I keep thinking and thinking of the what ifs.
I was never good at making coffee; Mum, Dad, Nan, Grandad would always grit their teeth and smile through the bitter taste. The image of them scrunching up their face but telling me ‘No it’s good, thank you.’, has stained the bottom of my mind just like the coffee grounds stain the bottom of the cup in a deep ring-like shape that seems almost impossible to remove. Just like how it seems almost impossible to remove the image of their faces, and the stains at the bottom of my cup. My brother makes good coffee.
What if I spill it on me?
People prefer his coffee.
What if I spill too much?
Whilst mine stays stagnant at the bottom of the cup, as you leave it on the side, unfinished. Acknowledged, but it’s not as important.
What if I’m not finished? What if you don’t like my coffee?
47 • M E NTA L H E A LT H • MY LIFE
We both know there is better coffee out there.
Drops falling onto my white shoes, they are stained now, useless.
So as you sit me down and ask me the mandatory questions,
A few more falling onto my top, that’s stained too, useless.
I add a bit more sugar to my coffee, to sweeten it up.
But it’s spilling too quickly as it drops onto my sleeves, coating them along with my hands as they scorch in the liquid trying to wipe away as much as I can whilst my hair falls like a curtain in front of me and sticks to my blushed face.
I soften the first sip, so I can avoid seeing another scrunched up face that’s full of doubt. Because I know you’ll doubt my coffee. I add a few more sugar cubes and drops of milk until you give me a smile and as you swallow it whole, you tell me in confidence ‘I don’t think you need these sessions anymore’. And I take my coffee, which now tastes even more bitter than it originally did because I’m left with a complicated mixture that if I spill, I know will not come out. So I carry it with caution, because as I am walking away with my back turned to you, I realise I added way too much milk back there and now my coffee is swishing about, lapping over the edges with each step.
As I try quickly to take what’s left of it around the corner so I can empty it all down the drain… ‘Hey, are you okay?’ In that tone. I knew right then, that my coffee was going to spill. The words pushing my cup right over, drenching me in the bitter taste I was trying to avoid. This is why I don’t share my coffee. It always leaves me in a mess that I have to clean up by myself.
Ready to spill.
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WHY YOU SHOULD KEEP A JOURNAL BY KEELEY MAE BULLMAN
I’m sure as kids we all kept that one diary that lasted for no more than 2 days with a constant thought we would “keep it up.” Even if you didn’t, I know I did, and back then I didn’t realise how beneficial it would’ve been to continue writing. Now – with that in mind – I’ve come to realise, writing down your feelings in a journal every day can really help you come to terms with how you’re feeling. Every day only negative thoughts would take over and carrying that weight was only a burden. That’s why I turned to journalling: not only did it help me figure out why I was feeling a certain way, but it also helped me focus more on the positive parts of my day. If you’re someone like me who constantly struggles with anxious thoughts, bottling all that up will only hurt you more. Writing down these feelings can help reduce stress and anxiety. Highlight your problems or fears and help yourself understand why you feel this way; recognising a trigger can help you avoid similar issues later in life. Looking back to past entries, I’ve found I really improved with both handling my feelings and understanding them. Some things, without even realising, I have stopped overthinking completely. Being able to track your growth and progress over time really helps you grow stronger as a person, and it’ll really help you see the brighter side of every situation.
Don’t only let your bottled feelings out, write about all your accomplishments and achievements too! In due time, looking back will not only make you feel good but also heavily boost your self-confidence. Unfortunately, you may feel you haven’t achieved much. If so, set goals for yourself and watch as you complete these goals over time. Just remember, start small and basic. Putting too much pressure on yourself by trying to make it pretty or even legible will only stress you out more. Don’t write too much at first. Even a few sentences a day can make a difference. You wouldn’t want to be bored of it before you even start, right? That is your private place. Don’t worry about it making sense; just let your story unfold.
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OCD AND ME BY RACHEL MITCHELL
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety disorder that is common but hugely misunderstood. I was diagnosed with OCD in 2011, at 18 years old, and I’m still learning about my disorder and installing effective coping strategies into my daily life. Before my diagnosis, I had a minimal understanding of what OCD was, although as I’ll explain, OCD is very misunderstood. The diagnosis can often be used as a throw-away remark in response to someone’s desire to have their house or self ‘neat and tidy’. This is one of the most common misconceptions, to the point where it can often be glamourised and be seen as a ‘cool problem’. It is also not possible to be ‘a little OCD’ and using remarks like this can be incredibly damaging and dismissive of individuals’ real experiences. OCD can be extremely distressing and impact all areas of someone’s life.
Let’s have a look at what OCD is: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can be broken down into two main areas: obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions describe unwanted and intrusive thoughts and images that someone may experience. These intrusions can cause a lot of distress to someone as they often appear without warning, for example, while someone is
carrying out their normal daily activities and despite someone’s efforts, they can’t be ‘made’ to disappear. Compulsions are behaviours that someone may carry out because of their intrusion. This may be an attempt to minimalise the impact of the thoughts or images or because they believe that if they do not carry out their compulsion, something terrible may happen to them or a loved one. Common compulsions include behaviours such as ‘checking’, ‘washing’ or saying a word or phrase a set amount of times. Compulsions are just not physical but can also be mental, such as counting.
What to do if you think you are experiencing OCD: If you’re worried that you might be experiencing unwanted thoughts or images that might be associated with OCD then it’s a good idea to speak to a professional. In the first instance, you might want to consider speaking to your GP who may then refer you for a further assessment. Treatment for OCD usually includes Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT). This talking therapy works by talking about your
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which of these are your main goal. Once you’ve selected an option, you then are asked how familiar you are with CBT. If you are not very confident with your understanding, you are introduced to the technique with an example and opportunity to check your learning. You are then able to select your current mood and journal the reasons for it. You are then able to free type journal e entries and track your mood over days and weeks. intrusions, challenging them and seeing if you can replace them with more helpful thoughts. CBT might also include looking at past trauma using tools such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EDMR) therapy. In some circumstances, medication may be used to help lessen the effects of OCD. There are also ways to explore CBT and self-help tools without engaging in a professional service. The following resources are my own recommendations based on my own experiences. It’s important to note that what may work for one person, may not be as effective for another. There are a few apps that I switch between which offer mindfulness activities as well as journaling tools.
Self-Care: This is a CBT Self-Care Journal. ‘This app is designed to help you take better care of your emotional well-being with proven, easy-to-use, and self-guided CBT techniques’. When you log in to this app, you are given three options: Worry less; Improve mood; and Track mood. You are asked
Headspace: Offers Meditation and mindfulness for any mind, any mood, and goal. There are paid elements to this app however, there are discounts available if you look online and for students you can receive cheaper subscriptions with a valid NUS card or Unidays registration. I like that this app offers a range of mindfulness activities including yoga and meditation and addresses topics such as money, eating and injustice. The app also tailors a number of exercises for you to do through the day, so you can practice mindfulness from the moment you wake, until you go to bed. In addition to apps, I have begun to explore Instagram accounts which raise awareness of OCD, particularly other individuals who talk about their own experiences. Accounts I recommend include;
@ocddoodles @the_ocdproject @obsessivelyeverafter OCD can be very scary but there are people who can support you through your experiences. You can also find out more information at ocdaction.org.uk and ocduk.org
51 • M E N TA L H E A LT H • MY LIFE
Support for survivors of childhood sexual abuse
07765 052282
survivorsintransition.co.uk
Arts in mental health and wellbeing
insideout community.com
For confidential suicide prevention advice contact
0800 068 4141 papyrus-uk.org
Advice, guidance and practical support
01473 252607 4yp.org.uk
The mental health charity offering support and guidance
0300 111 6000 mind.org.uk
depressionuk.org Run by people with experience of living with anxiety and stress
03444 775 774 anxietyuk.org.uk
We’ve got lots of advice about looking after yourself
0800 1111
childline.org.uk
Improving teenage mental health by stemming commonly occurring MH issues at an early stage
www.stem4.org.uk Whether you’re stressed, anxious, low or depressed, we can help
0300 123 1503
wellbeingnands.co.uk Advice for those affected by low mood, depression and suicidal thinking.
studentsagainst depression.org Support people over 18 who have been bereaved by suicide
0300 111 5065 uksobs.org
NATIONAL NATIONAL NATIONAL
A national self-help organisation helping people cope with their depression.
NATIONAL
NATIONAL
turning-point.co.uk
NATIONAL
lighthousewa.org.uk
Providing a wide range of health and wellbeing services
NATIONAL
01473 228270
giveusashout.org
NOR/SUFFOLK
Supporting women who have suffered or are at risk of domestic abuse
Text 85258
NATIONAL
thecalmzone.net
In a Crisis? Anxious? Worried? Stressed? Shout for 24/7 help
NATIONAL
0800 58 58 58
NATIONAL
Campaign against living miserably
SUFFOLK
samaritans.org
SUFFOLK
116 123
SUFFOLK
When life is difficult, Samaritans are here – day or night, 365 days a year.
NATIONAL
www.familyfirst-uk.org
SUFFOLK
0300 772 7715
NATIONAL
Supporting families through change
NATIONAL
IN AN EMERGENCY PHONE 999 FOR NON-EMERGENCY MEDICAL PROBLEMS CALL NHS 111
PHYSICAL HEALTH & SPORT CO-EDITOR RACHEL MITCHELL
53 • P H YSI CA L H E A LT H & SP OR T • MY LIFE
STAY PHYSICALLY ACTIVE DURING THE COLDER MONTHS? BY FEBA SEBASTIAN Did you know exercising in the winter has some surprising benefits? Increases endurance. urns Fat. Exercising in cold B weather can double the amount of fat you burn. Here are simple routines you can consider: G o for a walk in the evening each day for at least 10 minutes to get fresh air. Take the stairs more often. Start a home workout session. There are several other ways you can stay active during the winter. rink and stay hydrated! It’s just as D important to stay hydrated when active in winter as it is in summer. Drink water before, during and after your winter workout. aylight hours. It is ideal to go and D workout outside when there is still some sunlight. wimming – go to your local pool S and start swimming. Learn a new skill you don’t know already. ind a fun and interesting winter F activity. You can go ice skating, skiing, wintry hike or even camping.
Now, how can we get motivated to exercise in the winter? Staying motivated in winter can be harder than it seems. It’s darker, it’s colder. We should always try to stay motivated. Staying motivated allows us to improve our health and stay focused. et Goals. Setting a goal is a way to get S motivated. eward Yourself. Treat yourself after you’ve R reached and achieved that goal. ave a friend. Exercise with a friend. H Encourage and motivate each other. usic. Listen to music during your workouts. M It keeps you focused and at ease. e flexible. Don’t be too harsh with yourself. B Make exercise fun, not hell! Make it simple, appropriate and realistic. Don’t forget exercise can help provide: harper Memory and Thinking – exercise S stimulates the growth of new brain cells. igher Self Esteem – you feel strong and H powerful. You’ll feel better about yourself and feel a sense of achievement. ore Energy – increase in your heart rate, M therefore you feel more energised. tronger Resilience – exercise can help you S build resilience. egular exercise can also help boost your R immunity and health. So, exercise in winter is important and beneficial for each and every one of us.
Stay Safe, Stay Healthy!
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55 • I SSUE 45 • MY LIFE
Long COVID Long Long COVID COVID
How to spot the signs and keep yourself and others safe How to spot the signs and keep yourself and others safe How to spot the signs and keep yourself and others safe What is long COVID? What is long COVID? For some people, coronavirus (COVID-19) can cause symptoms that last weeks For some people, coronavirus (COVID-19) canis cause symptoms last weeks What is long COVID? or months after the infection has gone. This sometimes calledthat post-COVIDor after infection gone. This sometimes calledthat post-COVIDFor some people, coronavirus (COVID-19) canis cause symptoms last weeks 19 months syndrome or the "long COVID".has 19 months syndrome or the "long COVID".has gone. This is sometimes called post-COVIDor after infection 19 syndrome or "long COVID". How long it takes to recover from COVID-19 is different for everybody. How long it takes to recover from COVID-19 is different for everybody. How it takes recover COVID-19 is different forwill everybody. Manylong people feel to better in a from few days or weeks and most make a full Many people feel inBut a few weeks and most will a full recovery within 12better weeks. fordays someorpeople, symptoms canmake last longer. recovery within 12better weeks. fordays someorpeople, symptoms canmake last longer. Many people feel inBut a few weeks and most will a full recovery within 12 weeks. But for some people, symptoms can last longer. The chances of having long-term symptoms do not seem to be linked to how The chances of having long-term symptoms do not seem to be linked to how ill you are when you first get COVID-19. ill you are when you first get COVID-19. The chances of having long-term symptoms do not seem to be linked to how ill you are when get COVID-19. People who had you mildfirst symptoms at first can still have long-term problems. People who had mild symptoms at first can still have long-term problems. People who had mild symptoms at first can still have long-term problems. This is why it is vital that we continue to take precautions to keep each other safe. This is why it is vital that we continue to take precautions to keep each other safe. The best way to avoid long COVID is to reduce transmission of the virus. You can do This by is why it istovaccinated, vital that wewearing continue toreduce take precautions toof keep each other safe. The best way avoid long COVID isato transmission theor virus. You can do this getting face covering in an enclosed crowded space this vaccinated, wearing face covering in anand enclosed crowded space such asgetting public transport, washing hands regularly avoiding close contact with The by best way to avoid long COVIDyour isato reduce transmission of theor virus. You can do such asgetting public transport, hands regularly avoiding contact with others. this by vaccinated,washing wearingyour a face covering in anand enclosed or close crowded space others. such as public transport, washing your hands regularly and avoiding close contact with others. of long COVID are varied and can include: breathlessness, fatigue, chest pain or Symptoms Symptomsproblems of long COVID are varied and can include: breathlessness, chest pain or tightness, with memory and concentration (also called brainfatigue, fog), difficulty tightness, problems with memory and concentration (also called brain fog), difficulty sleeping, palpitations, pins needles, joint pain, depression and anxiety, Symptomsheart of long COVID aredizziness, varied and canand include: breathlessness, fatigue, chest pain or sleeping, heart palpitations, dizziness, and needles, joint pain, depression and tinnitus, rash, earaches, headaches, feeling sick, diarrhoea, stomach aches, lossanxiety, of tightness,skin problems with memory and pins concentration (also called brain fog), difficulty tinnitus, rash, earaches,dizziness, headaches, feeling sick, diarrhoea, stomach aches, lossanxiety, of appetite, a high temperature, cough, sore throat, changes to sense of smell or and taste. sleeping,skin heart palpitations, pins and needles, joint pain, depression appetite, a high temperature, cough, sorefeeling throat,sick, changes to sense of smell or taste. tinnitus, skin rash, earaches, headaches, diarrhoea, stomach aches, loss of appetite, a high temperature, cough, sore throat, changes to sense of smell or taste.
Where can I get help? Where can I get help? Where I get help?worried about symptoms 4 weeks or more after having Contactcan a GP if you're Contact a GP if you're worried about symptoms 4 weeks or more after having COVID-19. COVID-19. Contact a GP if you're worried about symptoms 4 weeks or more after having COVID-19. For support with recovering from COVID-19, visit For support with recovering from COVID-19, visit www.yourcovidrecovery.nhs.uk 22/09/ www.yourcovidrecovery.nhs.uk For support with recovering from COVID-19, visit 2021 22/09/ www.yourcovidrecovery.nhs.uk 2021 22/09/ 2021
56 • I SSUE 46 • MY LIFE
FOOD CO-EDITOR CHLOE FINN
COOKING AND OUR MENTAL HEALTH BY CHLOE FINN After enduring a taxing day at school or even spending the day feeling out of sorts, the one thing that we can all agree on is that a plate of food can always cheer us up. Whether it be a hearty meal of roast chicken or a winter warm up of beef casserole, we can always rely on a tasty dish to lift our spirits. It’s even more rewarding when you’ve made that dish yourself. Food has always been one of the many things that we as people rely on. It’s something that we can use with a creative flair, whether it be baking a magnificent cake or even creating a new dish from scratch, it always allows our creative juices to flow. It even gives us a sense of pride and accomplishment whenever we cook for our friends or family and they exclaim how tasty our food is. I know I get extremely happy whenever someone enjoys my cooking! Cooking has always been something that I find relaxing, especially when I have just gone through a rather taxing day. The delicious smells that waft around the
room whenever I cook can’t help but make my tastebuds water and put a smile on my face. Creating a dish for friends and family is so fulfilling too, that it brightens up my day regardless of the negativities nagging my brain. Usually, I cook alone. It allows me to be in control and to know what’s going on within the kitchen. However, I do enjoy the occasional helping hand, especially when the day hasn’t been so kind to me. Having that extra pair of hands can always make a big difference. Spending time with parents or friends, having them chop up vegetables or even vice versa is always something that puts a smile on everyone’s faces. Cooking with others can always end up in some sort of food fight (that has to be guaranteed!) which always causes giggles and smiles from everyone. Mental health and food can go hand in hand, in a sense. Food is always going to be there for us and is always going to give us that little helping hand. Whether it be a quick stir fry or a batch of fresh cupcakes, cooking is sure to create joy.
57 • FOOD • MY LIFE
FESTIVE FAVOURITES BY STUDENT LIFE TEAM Around Christmas time, the variety of snacks and food seem to multiply in the hundreds. For the most, our everyday treats are rebranded with snowflakes and Christmas hats but there are also some that show up for their annual duty.
We asked the team what their favourite festive foods are, here’s what they said! Heather-Mae – Pigs in Blankets Phoebe – Yorkshire Puddings Pippa – Anything Brie and Cranberry Rachel – Festive crisp flavours Fran – Mince Pies ichard – Pan fried sprouts with bacon R lardons and cranberry sauce
58 • I SSUE 46 • MY LIFE
MY LIFE
REVIEW
CO-EDITORS RACHEL MITCHELL AND CELESTE SPAIN
EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE BY CELESTE SPAIN
It all starts with a pair of red heels and ends with a glitz and glam finale bound to sweep you off your feet – but “none of this is fantasy”, as Jamie says to his teacher, “this is just me, Miss.” Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is an incredible musical about not being afraid to be your true authentic self and striving to achieve your dreams. It also reminds us: there will always be those who try to bring you down just for being you but hell no, you are not gonna let them. At the beginning of the musical we see 16 year old Jamie in his classroom, just a boy who sometimes dreams of being a girl living his life. Isn’t that where it starts for us all LGBT or not? You start to dream of what you want to be and little by little you find yourself. For me, the opening scenes of this musical reminded me of being back in school, of course Jamie seems to already know a part of who he is which I’ve barely begun to discover in myself. The journey of discovery continues for Jamie as he rocks
a pair of red heels in school, discovers the art of drag and through some pain and hardship decides to show everyone who he really is. Throughout all this the music is beautiful, with the kind of songs which stick in your mind and make you smile. While also making you realise what wonderful singing voices the actors have, most notably: Layton Williams (Jamie), Sharan Phull (Pritti - Jamie’s bff), Amy Ellen Richardson (Margaret - Jamie’s Mum) and of course Shane Richie (Hugo/ Loco Chanelle - drag queen). Jamie’s best friend Pritti, the on the surface, shy, clever girl comes out of her shell and as Jamie grows in confidence so does she. Eventually even standing up to the bully of the school (and there’s another plot twist there which you’ll pick up on when watching the musical)!
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Never underestimate the quiet ones. A character after my own heart, kind, loyal and providing a shoulder for Jamie to cry on when needed. This character of course reminds me of a friend of mine who sets her sights high in life. Pritti truly is the kind of friend anyone would be happy to have by their side. Now Jamie’s Mum Margaret, played by Ellen Richardson has one of the most moving songs of the musical: ‘He’s My Boy’, her voice fills up the whole theatre as she sings lovingly of her son.
The relationship between Jamie and his mum could quite literally move mountains and certainly moves the audience to tears of joy. Having that home with such warmth and comfort where Jamie is free to be himself is ever so important. There is also love from Jamie’s aunt (who is rather a comical character). Hugo we first meet when Jamie stumbles across his shop, who we see later transform into the beautiful Loco Chanelle, drag queen extraordinaire. The fact that there is an element of drag in a West End musical feels in itself a major
accomplishment. Not to mention the fact that the main character, Jamie, is of course LGBT. I believe it is brilliant that this musical is raising even more awareness around the LGBT community and the art of drag and hopefully the audience can see that being LGBT or doing drag are not things to attack others for but things to be celebrated and accepted by society. Hopefully some may even decide to be allies or be accepting when a family member comes out to them. I also love how the other drag queens are shown as so kind to Jamie and loving drag performance, not to mention the outfits are gorgeous. The staging of the play works very well, with the classroom set being the most used, stools are clicked under in perfect timing to the music, with walls/ a building with windows behind. In which you can see the outlines of the band and from where I was sitting I could just about make out the pianist. In scenes at Jamie’s house, the left side of the set opens out to the right to reveal: the kitchen and stairs. Every element of the musical has been carefully thought through. Finally, the finale had me clapping with joy as the cast sang. I will also just say the sequin jacket Hugo had on looked fab and what a finish to the play!
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Favourite Things
ABOUT WINTER BY CELESTE SPAIN
Winter for me is not just a time where you can cosy up by a warm fire with a hot chocolate and watch snow falling outside the window – although that would be a dream scenario for me. It is also a time of reflection on the past year, as the weather turns colder outside we look inwards at how far we’ve come. With everything we’ve been through in terms of the pandemic we certainly could do with a bit of celebration. That might mean, for some, being around your family as families start gathering again, if you are old enough having a mulled wine with a cheeky mince pie or even dancing to some Christmas tunes as the yuletide season approaches. However winter is also a time of traditions, for me there is: the tradition of singing the ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ with my family, helping Grandma put her tree up and decorate her home for the season, baking mince pies with mum (which don’t last very long as they’re very popular in our house) or even watching Polar Express on Christmas Eve each year. These are my favourite things about this season.
who I remember on the 15th of December, his birthday. A man who inspired me so much to raise my voice and stand up for what I believe in, encouraging me to be every part of who I am and to be proud. Therefore winter is both a time of celebrating with the ones we love and remembering the people who we have loved and lost. In many ways it is a key time of year allowing us to take a breath before moving on to the new year full of new and exciting possibilities. Finally, as you wrap up warm and head out to whatever festivities, traditions, relaxing or reflecting you have planned make sure to ask yourself what your favourite things are about winter. I wish you all a lovely winter season, a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
Now I realise I’ve mentioned Christmas quite a lot but you can’t blame your mind for wandering to the most joyous time of year, can you? Winter is also a time of remembrance, with Remembrance Day falling on November 11th each year. Also, for me, remembering my late Grandpa 61 • M Y LI FE • MY LIFE
EMMAUS SUFFOLK
WORKING TOGETHER TO END HOMELESSNESS BY AMY WRAGG Sleepy Suffolk might be the last place you’d expect to find the legacy of a French revolutionary’s ideas, but nonetheless, it is here that Abbé Pierre’s rallying cry against poverty and homelessness still echoes over 70 years later. Emmaus Suffolk is a charity that works with vulnerable, socially isolated, long-term unemployed, and homeless people across the county. Created in 2015 in Ipswich, it operates as both an independent charity and as a member of a national federation of Emmaus Communities across the UK. Whilst all communities are run a little differently from each other, we all share the same fundamental principle of supporting people to work their way out of homelessness and poverty. Having previously worked in live events, a career change was imposed upon me by the pandemic, and I spent many months researching my options. A friend pointed me towards apprenticeships, and my first
thought was ‘Im too old and too qualified and I can’t afford to work for peanuts’. However, after a flurry of applications, I found an amazing opportunity to work with Emmaus Suffolk. Not only would they teach me how to run a charity, but I would get a free degree with Anglia Ruskin thrown in, and I would also be paid a fair wage as they are a ‘Living Wage’ employer. I joined the charity in April 2021 as a ‘Chartered Manager Apprentice’ and it’s the best job I’ve ever had. Prior to this I had never heard of the Emmaus movement. Despite it being established in 1949 by Abbé Pierre and operating in 37 different countries around the world, with a whopping 28 communities here in the UK! The idea is simple, that we work together to help ourselves, each other, and the wider community. Most of the Emmaus communities run charity shops and all aim to be self-funding. People who join the residential communities work across the organisation – in the shops, vans, offices and warehouses – generously sharing their skills with the charity to generate more income so that more people in need can be helped. It is these egalitarian ideals of cooperation, respect, hard work and compassion
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offer a diverse programme of free activities including a Music Club, Zine Club, and more. Known for our exceptionally stylish and fairly priced charity shops, we will also have a retail offer, selling our usual range of high-quality clothing, accessories, and furniture.
that have made me an advocate for the movement. Emmaus Suffolk is one of the newest and youngest communities in the UK, yet it has expanded rapidly since inception, responding to the need of the people we work with. We run a whole variety of free activities from our sites in Ipswich and Felixstowe, including our much beloved social hubs where anyone can drop-in for a cuppa and a chat. We also run a thriving gardening club, inspired by a volunteer who transformed a scrubland into an allotment during lockdown, accidentally growing a club along with his tomatoes! We also have a hugely popular upcycling workshop in Sailmakers shopping centre. The workshop offers volunteers the chance to learn how to make old furniture beautiful again, in a supportive and safe environment, whilst also contributing to the charity’s income as these pieces are then sold through our shops.
It really is an honour to work at Emmaus Suffolk and I am constantly annoying my friends by telling them I love my job, and all the talented, hard-working, inspirational people I work alongside. We have a fantastic team of staff, all with their own unique strengths and specialisms, including one member of the support team who uses his lived experience of addiction to support those who are struggling. Since joining I expected to learn about how to run a charity, understand a spreadsheet, write successful funding applications – and I am. But, I am learning so much more. The staff and volunteers at Emmaus Suffolk have taught me about humility, kindness and radical empathy. They have taught me to respect people with different opinions, and they have taught me that, when it comes down to it, we really aren’t that different after all. We all want purpose, acceptance, love, support and a place to call a home, and you can find all of these at Emmaus Suffolk. I have.
This month we open our very first community café, having taken over The Royal Oak, an old pub on Felixstowe Road, which will sell healthy, affordable homecooked meals. This venue will also 63 • M Y LI FE • MY LIFE
LGBT
CO-EDITORS CELESTE SPAIN AND JAMES WILLIAMS
LEGO PRIDE SET REVIEW BY CELESTE SPAIN
As an LGBT person with a great love of LEGO, I couldn’t wait to buy the ‘Everyone is Awesome’ LEGO pride set, which I have heard so much about since it came out at the beginning of June to mark the start of pride month. This is the first ever LEGO pride set and therefore it was very important for this set to be inclusive and show the diversity within the LGBT community so that no one is left out of this set. It was also an opportunity for LEGO to show their support for the LGBT community. I am definitely hoping more pride sets will be released in the future, not just for pride month because as I have emphasised before, pride is all year round. On first inspection LEGO have taken a fairly simplistic design, made it exciting to look at, build and a perfect addition to anyone’s LEGO collection or bookshelf. The set features the colours of the progress pride flag (which includes the colours: black and brown representing people of colour, the pink, blue and white representing the trans community and the colours yellow and purple representing the intersex
community). These colours make up the backdrop behind the LEGO figures and continue as LEGO tiles underneath them too. In terms of the set’s construction, it is very sturdy and also aesthetically pleasing to look at - perfect for going on a bookshelf or windowsill. The LEGO figures themselves are brilliant because they match the colours of the pride flag but all with different hairstyles and are placed diagonally from left to right: black as the furthest forward and pink the furthest back. This means that when you look at the set from the side you can see each individual figure clearly and offers another display option. The total build time for me was around half an hour. Also, the instructions were easy to follow, and it was quite an easy set to build. Therefore, don’t let the ‘18+’ on the box put you off, anyone under this age could easily build this set. I love that each character is unique, this really shows LEGO have made this set inclusive and thought carefully about the product. You can buy it for £30.99 on the LEGO website and I thoroughly recommend it to all!
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A SIMPLE GUIDE TO PRONOUNS BY ELOISE BRINDLE In today’s ever changing society pronouns are important but also cause confusion for many people. By many estimates there are at least 60–70 gender identities in the world today. With so many gender identities there comes a range of new pronouns.
WHAT ARE PRONOUNS? Pronouns are helpful tools you use, in place of a name, to express gender identity. It’s important to remember each individual is unique and therefore can use different pronouns. People will be much less likely to make mistakes about someone’s pronouns if they ask which pronouns to use and share their own when introducing themselves.
WHY ARE PRONOUNS IMPORTANT? Pronouns are important because, by using the correct pronouns, you are showing someone respect and creating a more inclusive environment for everyone. However, using incorrect pronouns may cause offense or be hurtful. Also, ignoring a person’s pronouns may imply that individuals who are under the transgender umbrella (such as people who are transgender, nonbinary, or gender nonconforming) don’t exist.
HOW TO BE INCLUSIVE AND RESPECTFUL: By using gender-neutral pronouns people are not making assumptions about another person’s gender. If you do not know someone’s pronouns, use “they” when you refer to them. Another way to be inclusive is to share your own pronouns with others. People can introduce themselves by their name and their pronouns everywhere, not just in LGBTQ+ spaces.
WHAT IF I MISTAKENLY USE THE WRONG PRONOUNS? Despite best efforts sometimes using the incorrect pronouns can happen. If someone accidentally uses the incorrect pronouns they ought to apologise, correct the pronouns and persevere. For example, if two people are talking about another person and one of them uses the incorrect pronouns for that person, one of the other people can gently correct them and remind them of the correct pronouns to use.
PRONOUN DO’S AND DON’TS: DO ask people for their pronouns. O apologise if you use the wrong D pronoun. (It does happen!) O NOT assume that a person’s D pronouns will always stay the same. O NOT ignore when the wrong D pronouns are used. By following these simple rules, you are less likely to fall into the trap of assuming other people’s pronouns. Do not worry if someone makes a mistake about pronouns just politely remind them of the correct pronouns to use and continue with your conversation.
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LIVING OUTSIDE THE BY CELESTE SPAIN
BINARY
It was around a couple of months ago that I realised I come under the nonbinary umbrella. As in an umbrella term with other identities branching off from it. Like most people after discovering my sexuality the big question of gender identity loomed up behind me. When I first began questioning my gender identity, I had a feeling that I didn’t see myself as one fixed gender. I have heard some transgender people say that when they look in the mirror, they see themselves as the gender they wish to change to. When I look in the mirror, I see the fluidity of my gender identity and through a lot of research and reading I came across the term genderfluid. The urban dictionary (one of my favourite websites for definitions of LGBT terms and identities) describes genderfluid as: ‘A genderfluid person is someone who fluctuates between more than one gender, or between having a gender and not having one. They do not stick to one gender…’. Basically, this means that this person’s gender varies, they feel a mix, so they may feel masculine on one day and feminine the next or a lack of gender other days/weeks/months.
What I did notice was that I started to feel uncomfortable with the pronouns she/ her, and now prefer more gender-neutral pronouns such as they/them or the neopronoun xe/xem. What I love about the term genderfluid is that it doesn’t feel constrictive or like you must feel a certain way to describe yourself as this term. So, although friends may ask me what gender identity I am leaning more towards on a certain day I don’t have to specify necessarily. This feels very freeing to me personally, to just be who I am and not put myself into one fixed identity. However, I believe gender non-conforming folks are still underrepresented in the media so we need all the allies we can get. My advice to anyone who wants to be an ally to NB folk is try to use the correct pronouns for people, help raise awareness and use gender neutral terms in conversation such as ‘folks’, ‘peeps’ instead of ‘guys’ or ‘girls’ for example. This will really help let gender non-conforming folks know that you support them.
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SHOW YOUR PRIDE Romwe Chain Necklaces £1–£3.50 | Romwe | uk.romwe.com I’ve included this as chain necklaces are currently very fashionable amongst LGBT young people. The necklaces on offer are low prices but high quality and immediately went on my Christmas list – will they go on yours?
Christmas is fast approaching so why not get something extra special for the LGBT people in your life and/or treat yourself. To really show you support them in who they are. So this year I’ve put together a Christmas gift guide with some items which I think would make cool presents to give to LGBT friends or family members! Without further ado here is the Show Your Pride Christmas Gift Guide:
LGBT+ Holographic Bracelets £6.99 | The Pride Shop | theprideshop.co.uk/ product-category/jewellery/bracelets/ The Pride Shop online store has beautiful bracelets – the holographic ones are my favourite. When a certain light is cast onto them, they appear almost luminescent and even come in a large range of flag colours – a perfect gift for anyone.
ThistleSoapery Love Is Love Soaps £4.50–£4.95 | ThistleSoapery etsy.com/uk/shop/ThistleSoapery ThistleSoapery is a London based soap shop with ‘natural and cruelty free vegan soaps’ helping you and others show your pride and be eco-friendly too. The ‘Love is Love’ soap collection comes in the flags: rainbow, trans, bi and pan as well as a pride confetti soap. Custom orders are available.
‘Proud’ book compiled by Juno Dawson £6.55 | WHSmith | whsmith.co.uk £7.99 | Waterstones | waterstones.com The book Proud is described on the front cover as ‘Stories, poetry and art on the theme of pride’. These are all written by LGBTQ+ writers with art by LGBTQ+ artists and compiled by Juno Dawson – the author of ‘This Book Is Gay’ and ‘What’s The T?’. Definitely a worthwhile read.
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Pride Flags – specific to the person you are buying for £6–8 Gay Pride Shop (depending on size) gayprideshop.co.uk £6.99 The Pride Shop | theprideshop.co.uk Pride flags are a great gift idea for any time of year. These are high quality material perfect for any pride events, hanging up in your bedroom and they even make a great Zoom background!
Crochet Rainbow Creations Rainbow Octopi £12 Rainbow Jellyfish £20 and many more! onewingedangel.bigcartel.com/products www.tiktok.com/@onewingedangel6 This is another cute gift idea I found via Tiktok, you may have come across this person’s hilarious tiktok videos featuring the cute crochet LGBT animals they sell. Well, I especially love the rainbow octopi and yes there are frog plushies too.
‘The Queen’s English’ by Chloe O. Davis £11.99 | WHSmith | www.whsmith.co.uk £14.99 | Waterstones | www.waterstones.com This book is also a great gift or stocking filler. It is basically an LGBT+ dictionary of all the terms you could possibly imagine with beautiful artwork, helpful tables and diagrams to help you on your journey of discovery.
LGBTQ+ Frog Necklace £13.38 | Funny Trinket www.etsy.com/uk/shop/FunnyTrinket Who doesn’t love frogs? FunnyTrinket makes cute frog necklaces where the frog is holding a flag of your choice, these also come as earrings and keychains. Flag options include: rainbow, bi, trans, asexual, lesbian and non binary.
Weird Wednesday Beanie Hats, Clothes, Prints & Badges Hats £12 | Tees £22-£24 Prints £2-£3.50 | Badges £2 www.weirdwednesday.co.uk This shop is run by an LGBT couple and sells: cute ‘live, laugh, toad’ tees (tie-dye available), hoodies, beanie hats with ‘end gender norms’, ‘never not nervous’ & ‘never not tired’ on them. As well as cute pronoun badges and LGBT prints. Custom orders are available.
Lucy & Yak L.E. Original Dungaree & L.E. Benny Tees Dungarees £60 | T-shirts £25 lucyandyak.com Finally Lucy and Yak do great ecofriendly products but their most recent collab is with Asaph Luccas part of L&Y’s Black Queer Travel Guide capsule collection. This was in creation of L.E. Original Dungaree. Some other products from this collection are the L.E. Benny Tee collab with Ashton Attzs as well as the L.E. Benny Tee collab with Wacom Boy. 100% of profits go to charities selected by the artists. Go check all three items out in the link above.
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MY MONEY CO-EDITOR RACHEL MITCHELL
STUDENT DISCOUNTS What are they and how do I get them? BY RACHEL MITCHELL One of the top student perks, I think we can all agree on, is the discounts available in the hundreds. When I was a student, the idea that I might be able to get a cheeky discount off my latest shopping spree was both a relief (because I was always broke) and it felt like you’d got a right bargain (even if 10% off equivalated to 10p). Back then, you had to look quite hard to find the discounts. You might see a little sign in a shop window saying that they accept NUS Extra Cards but mostly, you’d know because you would ask. As someone who was always a little socially awkward, I must have missed out on loads of discounts available to me, because I was too shy. Thank goodness it seems to be easier now.
It now appears as though there are several sites and schemes you can sign up to, which will give you access to student discounts. I did a quick google search, and these are the top answers.
UNIDAYS www.myunidays.com UNiDAYS appear to have overtaken NUS extra (now TOTUM) in most recent years. I think the main draw to this is because it’s a free site to access, whereas NUS extra you would pay for a physical card. On entering the UNiDAYS site, I am surprised with the calibre of brands on board and the discounts available. For example, 20% at Office and 30% off Pure Gym. A far cry from what used to be on the site, UNiDAYS operates across 7 countries with 1 in every 3 students being a UNiDAYS member. There seems to be something for everyone, and it is very handy having all the discounts in one place. This site is for sixth form, college and university students.
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STUDENT BEANS
TOTUM
www.studentbeans.com
www.totum.com
Another website which on the surface operates similarly to UNiDAYS. At a quick glance, there seems to be the same sort of brand discounts available, but I also spot a few newbies. One thing I did notice immediately was that they have an app you can download which makes searching for discounts on the go really simple. I like how the website is laid out, categorising the Top 20 Student Discounts and also sign posting to sales such as Black Friday. Student Beans ‘partner with over 650 of the world’s biggest brands and connect brands to over 163 million students in 50+ countries worldwide’. Student Beans also heavily promote job opportunities with the company, so if you’re a creative, then it’s worth checking them out.
The NUS Extra cards was replaced a few years ago by TOTUM which is described as ‘NUS extra, evolved!’. When I was at Uni, NUS Extra cards used to be one of the ways Students’ Unions were able to make money so there was always a big push for them. It was one of the only recognised forms of student ID and lots of discounts were exclusive to members. TOTUM still claim to be the UK’s #1 student discount as well as being PASS-accredited proof of age ID card. That’s a good bonus! Unlike the previous sites, TOTUM is still a paid for, physical card and app. It costs £14.99 for 12 months or £24.99 for three-years. I don’t know if this is still possible, but we used to encourage those graduating Uni to sign up to another 3 years of discounts before their email address expired (cheeky tip there)! TOTUM boast over 350 student discounts which is a smaller amount to those we’ve already looked at, so it does pose the question of ‘what am I paying for here?’. It’s worth having a look though.
SAVE THE STUDENT www.savethestudent.org Save the Student ‘provides free, impartial advice to students on how to make their money go further’. While the website isn’t exclusive to promoting discounts, they do have a student discounts’ directory which allows you to search through 531 active offers. They also offer the opportunity to sign up to a weekly newsletter which is said to boost the best deals each week. This site seems like a good catch all for financial support.
Essentially, we’ve come on leaps and bounds with discount hunting that I find it almost second nature to Google a code before I buy something. There are hundreds of student discounts available to you and hopefully I’ve been able to pinpoint some of the more recognised and widely used sites. So what are you waiting for? Get signed up to them all!
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OUR EDUCATION PARTNERS
OUR STRATEGIC PARTNERS
www.studentlife.org.uk
